March marks the beginning of the Spring Break season, when students ditch their studies for a week and head to the beach, the lake or the pool for some sun-soaked R-and-R. But beware. That sun-kissed look that many crave can also lead to an unsightly side effect: spider veins. Jacksonville’s Dr. James St. George offers tips for protecting your skin from multiple negative effects of sun exposure.

Exposure to UV rays can be harmful in more ways than one.

We all know that the skin’s exposure to harmful UV rays is linked to skin cancer, premature aging and other health maladies. But many are unaware that too much sunshine can also cause spider veins to develop, particularly on the face and legs.

The sun’s rays weaken the skin’s upper layers, sapping its moisture and diminishing its elasticity. If the skin is unable to move and bend in multiple directions, veins at the skin’s surface also cannot move. This means the veins are unable to keep the blood flowing as normal. When blood is unable to flow, it simply pools, creating spider veins.

Remember to protect yourself in the sun.

To protect your skin from spider veins and other sun-induced maladies, apply sun-blocking moisturizers with high SPFs, focusing on the nose, face and legs. Reapply often if you swim or sweat. Wear wide-brimmed hats and protective clothing. And rather than bake in the sun, find a shady spot from which to enjoy the scenes of spring break and the coming summer.

If you’re already seeing signs of spider veins, Jacksonville’s St. Johns Vein Center can help. We specialize in the treatment of spider veins, varicose veins, blue veins and other related venous conditions. Call 877-640-VEIN (8346) or visit our website to schedule a consultation.

Our practice offers patients non-surgical alternatives to treat many conditions such as spinal compression fractures, symptomatic uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic pain from incompetent abdominal/pelvic veins, and narowed or blocked arteries causing lifestyle limiting claudication and/or chronic wounds. The minimally invasive techniques we use offer similar or better outcomes to surgery with a much shorter and less painful recovery. One or our skilled physicians will perform an in-depth consultation with you to decide on the best management in order to meet your needs.